Inflatable bulkhead assembly for railway freight cars

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic bulkhead assembly for a railway box car suspended by flexible support means from the upper portion of the box car. The bulkhead assembly includes upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the car and mounted on the flexible support means in a vertically spaced relation to each other with the lower bulkhead section mounted for a limited resilient movement relative to the upper bulkhead section. Each bulkhead section includes a pair of generally flat faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces to urge the faces outwardly upon inflation.

1451 Mar. 27, 1973 INFLATABLE BULKHEAD ASSENIBLY FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS [75] Inventors: Jan D. Holt, Saint Charles; Garth R.

Smith, Saint Peters, both of Mo.

[73] Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated, New

York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Nov. 1, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 194,165

[52] US. Cl. ..105/369 BA, 220/46 F, 105/376 [51] Int. Cl ..B60p 7/14, B6ld 45/00 [58] Field of Search 105/369 BA, 369 S, 376;

214/105 1; 220/46 F; 206/DIG. 30

3,177,816 4/1965 Daberkow 105/369 BA 3,554,135 1/1971 Duvail 3,673,968 7/ 1972 Bertram 105/369 BA Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Eugene N. Riddle [57] ABSTRACT A pneumatic bulkhead assembly for a railway box car suspended by flexible support means from the upper portion of the box car. The bulkhead assembly in cludes upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the car and mounted on the flexible support means in a vertically spaced relation to each other with the lower bulkhead section mounted for a limited resilient movement relative to the upper bulkhead section.

[56] References cued Each bulkhead section includes a pair of generally flat UNITED STATES PATENTS faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces to urge the ,faces outwardly upon inflation. 2,674,206 4/1954 Scott 105/369 BA 3,145,853 8/1964 Langenberg 105/369 BA 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUuAnenms SHEET 10F 2 INVENTORS, JAN D. HOLT GARTH R. SMITH ATTORNEY PATENIEBuiazmza SHEET 2 [IF 2 INFLATABLE ASSEMBLY FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The employment of inflatable bulkheads in railway box cars is well known, such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,427,997 and 3,192,879. When inflated, the bulkheads exert pressure against lading in the car and minimize shifting of the lading which might result from impact forces exerted against the box car. However, when the lading is stacked in tiers in the box car such as desirable with lading having a small weight and in pasteboard boxes, oftentimes the lading in different tiers might shift thereby resulting in an irregular shifting of a vertical stack of boxes and with the bulkhead in contact with only a portion of the lading. As a result, lading not in contact with the bulkhead may tend to move laterally against the sides, and particularly the doors of the railway box car thus making it difficult to open the doors upon unloading of the box car. With inflatable bulkheads it has been common inmany instances to secure one of the faces or portions of: the inflatable bulkheads to the floor thereby permitting only a limited movement of the other face or faces of the bulkheads. This arrangement accommodates only a limited amount of longitudinal movement of the lading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed primarily to an inflatable bulkhead assembly for a railway box car and comprising upper and lower'bulkhead sectionseach of a height around one-half the height of the car. The lower bulkhead section is mounted for limited. move-. ment in a horizontal. direction. relative to the upper bulkhead section. Further, each bulkhead section has individual inflatable means and the lower bulkhead section may, if desired, be inflated a greater amount than the upper bulkhead. section,.for example. Particularly when the lading comprises relatively lightweight boxes arranged in a plurality. of tiers, such as cereals, food stuffs, and the like, boxes in the lower tiers may shift relative to the boxes in the upper tiers andyet remain in contact with and cushioned by an inflatable bulkhead section since each bulkhead comprises-a pair of individual and separate bulkhead sections extending across substantially the entire widthof the car but yet being of a height less than around one-half the height of the railway car. Further, each bulkheadsection has a pair of faces with a pneumatic. bag between the faces whereby upon inflation-of the pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly.

The bulkhead assembly is suspended from the roof or upper portion of the box can and isnot securedto the floor in any manner. This, the bulkheadsection may float or move freely along the lengthof the car while being suspended in supporting relation on the upper portion of the railway car. As a continuous pressureis exerted against the lading, no side. fillers or the like are required to be positioned in the box car.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, thescope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, inwhich one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a railway car showing the bulkhead assembly comprising the present invention in elevation suspended from the upper portion of the railway box car;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a bulkhead assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the flexible support means indicated thereon;

FIG. 3 is a top plan of the bulkhead assembly shown in FIG. I removed from the railway car;

FIG. 4 is an elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing the railway box car in a loaded condition with the pneumatic bags inflated and urging the lading against the FIG.5 is'a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the position of the lading after an impact load with the bulkhead assemblies being in contact with and urging the lading against the ends of the car; i

. FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 2 showing resilient means supporting the lower bulkhead section;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 2 showing the mounting of the flexible means on the lower bulkhead section with means to releasably secure the bulkhead assembly to the sides of the box car;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 2 illustrating the upper portion of the bulkhead assembly; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevation of the support means for the bulkhead assembly.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, a railway box car is generally indicated 10 having a roof 12, a floor l4, and a pair of sides 16 extending between floor l4 and roof 12. A trackway l8is positioned on the interior of box car 10 along thejunctures of roof 12 and sides 16. Mounted in trackways 18 for movement are trolleys generally indicated20. Each trolley 20 includes an axle 22 and a pair of rollers 24 thereon mounted within trackways 18.

Two bulkhead assemblies generally indicated 26 are mountedwithin box car 10. While two bulkhead assemblies 26 have been shown it may be desirable in some plywood between around one-founth inch and 1 inch in thickness. Such a thickness permits a limited bowing or bending of the faces which sometimes aids in the faces maintaining contact with the adjacent lading. Side brackets 36 having eyes 38 integral therewith are secured to the inner surfaces of faces 32 andextend laterally outwardly therefrom as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3. Also, smaller brackets 40 having eyes 41 integral therewith are secured along the upper portion of oneface 32as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. Pneumatic 1 bag 34 has a circumferential extension or lip 42 extending thereabout and a suitable resilient rope 44 is secured between eyes in extension 42 and brackets 40 thereby to connectinflatable bag 34 to adjacentface' 32 as shown in FIG. 3.

Lower bulkhead section 30 comprises a pair of opposed. faces having an inflatable pneumatic bag 50 therebejtwe en. Bag 50 includes a circumferential lip or extensioh 52 and is similar to inflatable bag 34. Brackets 54 having eyes 56 integral therewith are secured to the inner surfaces of faces 48. Bag 50 is supported by a suitable resilient rope 58 from brackets 40 on upper bulkhead section 28. An air inlet hose 59 is connected to each inflatable bag 34, 50 to permit inflation thereof from a suitable source of air, such as an air compressor or the like. Bags 34 and 50 are normally inflated to a pressure of around psi and this relatively low pressure permits the bag to change shapes upon the application of varying forces from the lading.

To support bulkhead assembly 26, chains 62 are connected at their upper ends to a bearing ring 64 about axle 22 of trolleys 24 as shown in FIG. 9. The lower ends of chains 62 are secured to eyes 38 on brackets 36 of upper bulkhead section 28. To-support lower bulkhead section 30, chains 66 extend downwardly from eyes 38 and have their lower ends secured to eyes 56 on brackets 54 as clearly shown in FIG. 7. Each chain 66 includes a tension spring 68 therein and a bypass portion 70 extending about tension spring 68. Thus, the expansion of spring 68 is limited by bypass portion 70 which becomes taut when spring 68 is expanded. Further, to limit the outward expansion of respective faces 32 and 48, connecting chain portions 71 and 72 .are provided between respective chains 62 and 66.

Connecting portions 71 and 72 will become taut upon a predetermined spacing of faces 32 and 48.

As shown in FIG. 7, connecting chain portion 72 has a clasp 74 thereon. When not in use, bulkhead assembly 26 may be secured to a suitable bracket or the like on the side of railway car thereby to prevent longitudinal movement of the bulkhead along the length of box car 10. If bulkhead assembly 26 were not secured to the sides of an empty car, the assembly might be banged or thrust against the sides or ends of the railway car upon impact loads or the like being exerted against the empty car thereby possibly resulting in damage to the bulkhead assembly.

In loading a, railway box car having side door openings, lading is first placed in one end portion of the car with bulkhead assemblies 26 positioned adjacent the other end portion of the car. When the door opening is reached with the lading, then the two bulkhead assemblies 26 are positioned adjacent the lading and the opposite end portion of the box car is loaded. When the lading reaches the door opening, one of the bulkhead assemblies 26 is then positioned against the lading. Next, the center portion of the car between bulkhead assemblies 26 is loaded with lading. The air bags are inflated to a pressure of around 5 psi to exert force against the lading indicated at L after the center portion has been loaded. Lading L comprises a plurality of boxes arranged in tiers with the sizes of the boxes being of different proportions. Thus, upon inflation of pneumatic bags 34, 50, some of the tiers move longitudinally a greater amount than some of the remaining tiers thereby resulting in the pneumatic bags being of varying shapes and sizes. After impact, as shown in FIG. 5, the various tiers may shift relative to each other and this results in varyingforces being applied against the inflated bags 34, 50.

minimize any lateral shifting of the lading against the sides of the car.

Such an arrangement eliminates the necessity for separate side spacers and the like which are sometimes provided to restrict the lateral shifting of lading within a box car. Especially in the door areas, contact of the lading against the doors restricts or sometimes prevents the movement of the doors to an open position. Tension springs 68 permit a substantial relative longitudinal movement between upper bulkhead section 28 and lower bulkhead section 30. Also, springs 68 allow lower section 30 to move laterally relative to upper bulkhead section 28 without any simultaneous vertical or swinging movement thereby eliminating relative vertical movement between the lading and faces 48 upon such lateral relative movement. If relative sliding movement occurs between the lading and the adjacent contacting faces 48, some damage might possibly result from such action. Thus, it is desirable to eliminate any relative frictional type movement between the lading and the adjacent faces of the bulkhead.

What is claimed is:

1. In a movable bulkhead assembly for a railway box car, flexible support means wholly suspending the bulkhead assembly from the upper portion of the railway car with the bulkhead assembly being spaced from the floor of the car, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections in vertically spaced relation to each other, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly.

2. In a movable bulkhead assemblyas set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible support means includes means mounting said lower bulkhead section for limited longitudinal movement relative to the upper bulkhead section.

3. In a movable bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible support means includes resilient means positioned between said upper and lower bulkhead sections whereby said lower bulkhead section may move longitudinally relative to said upper bulkhead section.

4. In a railway box car having a roof, a pair of opposed sides, and a floor; a bulkhead assembly mounted within the box car between the opposed sides, flexible support means suspending the bulkhead assembly from the upper portion of the car for movement longitudinally of the car, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the opposed sides and mounted on said flexible means in vertically spaced relation to each other, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly.

S. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flexible support means includes means mounting said lower bulkhead section for limited longitudinal movement relative to the upper bulkhead section 6. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flexible support means includes resilient means positioned between said upper and lower bulkhead sections whereby said lower bulkhead section may move longitudinally relative to said upper bulkhead section.

7. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 5 wherein said faces are formed of plywood of a thickness between around one-fourth inch and 1 inch to permit a limited bowing of the faces upon forces exerted against the faces.

8. In a railway box car having a roof, a pair of 0pposed sides, and a floor; the improvement comprising a bulkhead assembly mounted within the box car between the opposed sides, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the opposed sides, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly, a trackway positioned adjacent the upper portion of the sides, a trolley mounted in the trackway for movement therealong, and flexible support means connected to said trolley and suspending said bulkhead assembly at a height spaced from the floor for free longitudinal movement, said flexible support means including coiled spring means between the upper and lower bulkhead sections to permit longitudinal movement of the lower bulkhead section relative to the upper bulkhead section.

9. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 8, means extending between the opposed faces of said bulkhead sections to limit the spacing of said faces. 

1. In a movable bulkhead assembly for a railway box car, flexible support means wholly suspending the bulkhead assembly from the upper portion of the railway car with the bulkhead assembly being spaced from the floor of the car, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections in vertically spaced relation to each other, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly.
 2. In a movable bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible support means includes means mounting said lower bulkhead section for limited longitudinal movement relative to the upper bulkhead section.
 3. In a movable bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible support means includes resilient means positioned between said upper and lower bulkhead sections whereby said lower bulkhead section may move longitudinally relative to said upper bulkhead section.
 4. In a railway box car having a roof, a pair of opposed sides, and a floor; a bulkhead assembly mounted within the box car between the opposed sides, flexible support means suspending the bulkhead assembly from the upper portion of the car for movement longitudinally of the car, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the opposed sides and mounted on said flexible means in vertically spaced relation to each other, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly.
 5. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flexible support means includes means mounting said lower bulkhead section for limited longitudinal movement relative to the upper bulkhead section
 6. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flexible support means includes resilient means positioned between said upper and lower bulkhead sections whereby said lower bulkhead section may move longitudinally relative to said upper bulkhead section.
 7. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 5 wherein said faces are formed of plywood of a thickness between around one-fourth inch and 1 inch to permit a limited bowing of the faces upon forces exerted against the faces.
 8. In a railway box car having a roof, a pair of opposed sides, and a floor; the improvement comprising a bulkhead assembly mounted within the box car between the opposed sides, said bulkhead assembly comprising upper and lower bulkhead sections each of a height generally around one-half the height of the opposed sides, each section including a pair of faces and a pneumatic bag between the faces whereby upon inflation of said pneumatic bag the faces are urged outwardly, a trackway positioned adjacent the upper portion of the sides, a trolley mounted in the trackway for movement therealong, and flexible support means connected to said trolley and suspending said bulkhead assembly at a height spaced from the floor for free longitudinal movement, said flexible support means including coiled spring means between the upper and lower bulkhead sections to permit longitudinal movement oF the lower bulkhead section relative to the upper bulkhead section.
 9. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 8, means extending between the opposed faces of said bulkhead sections to limit the spacing of said faces. 